Readily releasable interconnecting means for panels

ABSTRACT

The interconnecting means between contiguous panels or sheets or between a panel and a support therefor is designed to facilitate the assembly of panels or sheets to form the desired structure. The means has a more or less rigid member with one or more slotted channels thereon which are adapted to receive resilient, or springy, slotted sleeves expandable into a tight fit in the channel when the panels are inserted in the slot in the sleeve.

United States Patent [191 Rice et al.

[ Jan. 29, 1974 READILY RELEASABLE INTERCONNECTING MEANS FOR PANELS [76]Inventors: Macon D. Rice, P.O. Box 1905,

Hawthorne, Nev. 89415; Emil G.

Anderson, 707 Van Buren St. N.W., Washington, DC. 20012 22 Filed: Oct.4, 1971 21 App]. N0.: 186,056

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser No.854,442, Sept. 2,

i969, Pat. N0. 3,614,835.

[52] US. Cl. 160/235 [51] Int. Cl E06b 3/12 [58] Field of Search160/229, 235, 183, 206;

99/384; 16/171, DIG. 6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,193 4/1963 Eskridge etal. l6/l7l 3,634,907 1 1972 Watt, Jr. l6/DIG. 6 3,205,935 9/1965 Cayton160/183 3,633,316 1/1972 Belser 49/384 Primary ExaminerPeter M. I CaunAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Emil G. Anderson [5 7] ABSTRACT Theinterconnecting means between contiguous panels or sheets or between apanel and a support therefor is designed to facilitate the assembly ofpanels or sheets to form the desired structure. The means has a more orless rigid member with one or more slotted channels thereon which areadapted to receive resilient, or springy, slotted sleeves expandableinto a tight fit in the channel when the panels are inserted in the slotin the sleeve.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED'JAN 2 91974 FIG. 4

o INVENTORS MACON D. RICE 'EM/L c. ANDERSON ATTORNEY 'FIG. 6

READILY RELEASABLE INTERCONNECTING MEANS FOR PANELS This application isa continuation-in-part of our copending US. Pat. application entitledEducational Toy Construction Kit, Ser. No. 854,442 filed Sept. 2, 1969now US. Pat. No. 3,614,835 and relates particularly to improvements inmeans for mounting and interconnecting the panels.

The practicability of a construction kit made up of a plurality ofdisconnectable parts, as shown in the aforesaid application, dependslargely on the facility with which the panels (or fairly rigid sheets)can be connected and disconnected in the building of differentgeometrical models, and it is the prime object of the invention toprovide means including specially shaped interconnectors and/or paneledges for facilitating the constructing of various geometrical objectsfrom a plurality of panels, as described in the aforesaid application.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide releasableinterconnecting means between contiguous panels or between panels andother supporting structures which permit the panels to be readilyattached to and detached from each other or from the supportingstructure.

In addition to the ease of assembly feature it is further an object ofthe invention to provide the panel interconnectors with means permittingthe panels to be adjusted to the required angular relationship when thepanels are being assembled and with means for firmly holding the panelsin the desired relationship with respect to each other or with itssupport when the panels have been assembled.

It is a further object to provide a frictional hinge interconnectingmeans which will permit limited hinging or swinging action betweencontiguous panels so that they may be adjusted to the required angularrelationship with respect to each other or to the support but remainsrelatively fixed when once adjusted to the desired position.

In the fulfillment of this invention there is provided panelinterconnectors having resilient, expansible, and slotted sleevesnestled within and coacting with complimentary shaped slotted channels,and which sleeves are expanded into tight frictional engagement with thechannels upon insertion of the panel means into the slotted sleeves.

Other objects and advantage will become apparent in the followingspecification considered in connection with the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is substantially the same as lamp shade structure of FIG. 9 ofthe above mentioned application wherein numeral 46 represents anelongated interconnecting means for side panels 5a, and 32 representsanother type of interconnecting means for connecting the top panel 6 tothe side panels.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of interconnecting means of ourinvention, illustrating two sleeve members 1 and 2 nestled respectivelyin the two elongated (cylindrical) channel elements 10 in a more or lessrigid support 3.

FIG. 3 shows a view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of another modification, the onlysubstantial difference from that of FIG. 2 residing in the channelsupport structure made from stamped sheet metal or plastic anddesignated by numerals 4, l4 and 21. The other elements of figure havethe same structure and the same numeral designations as in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two additional modifications differing fromFIG. 2 only in the structure of the channel support means 6, which arec-shaped in cross section and are welded or otherwise held together at19. FIG. 6 further shows the channel elements mounted with their slotopenings at right angles to each other. The other members are numberedthe same as in FIG. 2.

In the assemblying of a lamp shade of FIG. 1 or of other geometricalstructures as described in the above mentioned application, theinterconnectors shown in FIGS. 2-6 of the instant application may beutilized instead of connectors 32 and 46 shown in FIG. 1. The panelinterconnector or hinge means in FIG. 2 comprises a more or less rigidelongate member 3 and may have one or two slotted C-shaped channelelements 10, the inside surface 11, of the channels being generallycylindrical shaped and slightly greater than a semicircle in crosssection so that its slit width 13 (FIG. 4) is slightly less than theinside diameter of the cylindrical channel surface. When two slottedC-shaped channel elements are used they are arranged in back to backrelationship as shown in FIG. 2.

Each of the panel holding means 1, and 2 (FIG. 2) consists of a slottedexpansible sleeve made from resilient, springy, material, said sleevebeing generally round in cross-sectional shape. However, in itsunexpanded condition the vertical diameter (FIG. 4) is slightly lessthan its horizontal diameter. The inside dimensions of each channel 10and its associated sleeve (in its unexpanded condition) are soproportioned that the outside vertical diameter of the sleeve isslightly greater than the width of slot 13 in channel 10, but less thanthe inside diameter of the latter channel, whereby when sleeve 1 isforced into nestled relationship in channel 10, the sleeve will be(loosely) held in said channel. Instead of forcing sleeve 1 transverselyinto channel element through the slot thereof the sleeve may obviouslybe slid longitudinally into the channel.

The resilient or flexible sleeves 1 and 2 are formed so that in theirnormal and unexpanded condition (FIG. 4) the slot width 8 isconsiderably less than the thickness of panels 1 and 2 with which theyare associated. Therefore, when a panel 5a (or 5b) is inserted into aslot of a sleeve the latter being resilient will expand so that itsouter surface becomes substantially circular in cross section and hencebecomes substantially concentric with and complimentary to the innerchannel surface. Accordingly, the panel will expand the sleeve so itssurface conforms tightly to the circular contour of the channel tothereby hold the sleeve carrying a panel firmly in channel member 3.

As noted above, channels 10 are only slightly greater than a semi-circlein cross section and thus having a rel atively wide slot 13 (FIGS. 2,4),while sleeves 1 and 2 in their expanded condition form a more nearlycomplete circle in cross section whereby the edges of the sleevesterminate in a relatively narrow slot 8. Due to this difference incross-sectional size and slot openings of channels 10 and sleeves l, 2,the latter (with panels 5a and 5b connected thereto) can be rotated acertain amount with respect to each other and with respect to support 3,provided sufficient rotative force is applied to overcome the frictionalresistance between 1, 10. This rotative or pivoted adjustment isnecessary in the building of various sizes and shapes of geometricalfigures as well as in providing hinged panel supports in otherstructures. In order to facilitate the insertion of panel a into slot 8,sleeve 1 is provided with curved lips shown at 7 in FIG. 2 and 4, forexample. Rigid holding means such as bolts 23 may be provided to securethe panels in sleeve 1.

An alternate form for facilitating insertion of panel 5b into sleeve 2consists of a V-shaped inclines 17 on an edge of the panel to expandsleeve 2 as shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the width of eachinclined surface being less in dimension than the inner diameter ofsleeve 2, whereby the slot lips will engage the flat portion of panel 5bwhen fully inserted in sleeve 2.

To prevent panels 5a and 5b from sliding longitudinally in channels 10,a pin or projection 18 on sleeve 1 is provided which projects into anannular groove in. channel 10. Instead of the pin and groove connection,sleeve 2 may be swaged or bent, as shown in FIGS. 3, and 5 to form aprojection 12, or 12a to prevent longitudinal movement of sleeve 2 inchannel 10.

As is evident from the above description, the panels are readily andeasily assembled by merely pressing an edge of the panel into theslotted sleeve to expand the latter into contact with the channelsurface. The panels may likewise be readily released.

As stated above, all the modified forms operate substantially in thesame manner, it being noted that channel elements 4, 6, and sleeves 1and 2 in FIGS. 4-6 are elongated members as in FIG. 2. Channel members4, 6, 6 respectively in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 may be formed of stampedmaterial, which is substantially more rigid than sleeves 1 and 2.Channel support structure 4 in FIG. 4 is made from a single piece ofsheet material with web 21 interconnecting the two channels 14. Ifgreater strength is required a similar web may be connected to the otheredges of channels 14. In assembling the elements of FIG. 4 the sleeves 1and 2 are first snapped into or slid longitudinally into position inchannels 14 and then panels 5a and 5b are inserted into slots 8 toexpand the sleeve into tight frictional engagement with channels 14, aspointed out above with respect to FIG. 2. It is obvious that thechannels 6 in FIG. 5 may be fixed (welded) to each other in any desiredangular relationship, FIG. 6, for example, showing the channel openingsat right angles to each other.

In the above mentioned application, interconnecting means 32 and 46(FIG. 1 herein) are designed to connect the panels from a kit toconstruct a large variety of geometrical figures, the panels beinggenerally polygonal in shape, such as pentagons, hexagons, etc. Asstated above, the improved panel interconnecting means of this inventionare designed not only to interconnect panels to assemble lamp shades butalso for other objects, it being noted that a limited pivotal adjustmentof the panel interconnection is necessary in constructing objects ofdifferent sizes. Therefore, the connecting means of this invention maybe utilized wherever readily releasably and pivotally adjustable panelmounts are required.

The dimensions as to length, thickness, diameter, slot openings, etc.,of the channels and sleeves may be varied to suit the particular needsinvolved, and panels of various thicknesses may obviously be used inconjunction in sleeves having the appropriate slot width.

While the above described and illustrated showings disclose thepreferred embodiments of the invention. it is to be understood thatnumerous structural modifications may be resorted to in commercialadaptation of the invention without departing from the scope of theinvention hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. Support means providing readily releasable holding means for flatpanels, comprising an elongate member having a slotted channel element,the inner surface of the channel being generally cylindrical in shape,but terminating short of a complete cylinder in cross section due tosaid slot, a slotted springy resilient and expansible sleeve adapted tonestle in said channel element, the diameter of such sleeve in thedirection of the slot being slightly greater than the diameter at rightangles thereto when the sleeve is in its unexpanded condition, the lastmentioned diameter being greater than the slot width in said channel,and a flat panel having substantially the same thickness throughout itsmajor portions, the thickness of the panel being greater than the slotwidth in the sleeve in its unexpanded condition, whereby the panel uponforcible insertion into the slotted sleeve expands the latter so thatthe sleeve becomes substantially circular in cross section and causingits outer surface to tightly engage the inner surface of said channelthereby forming a tight frictional fit with said inner surface of saidchannel element and with the panel tightly gripped solely by the edgesof the slotted sleeve while permitting release of the panel uponsufficient force applied thereto.

2. Support means as defined in claim 1, wherein the partial cylindricalchannel has a C-shaped cross section which is only slightly greater thana semi-circle, the width of said channel slot being less than thediameter of said inner channel surface and wherein the lesser diameterof the unexpanded sleeve is slightly greater in dimension than the slotwidth in said channel but slightly less in dimension than the insidediameter of said channel, permitting the springy unexpanded sleeve to beinserted into said channel, and to fit loosely for rotation therein, butadapted to be expanded into tight contact with the channel member uponinsertion of the panel in the slotted sleeve.

3. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein the said sleeve isprovided with inclined curved lips at the slot entrance to facilitatethe insertion of the said panel into the slotted sleeve to therebyexpand the said sleeve into firm contact with the channel surface, thespringy sleeve also facilitating easy removal of panel from the sleeve,and means for rigidly holding the panel in its associated sleeve.

4. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein the panel isprovided with V-shaped edges to facilitate by wedging action, theinsertion and removal of said panel into and out of the said slottedsleeve.

5. Panel support means defined in claim 1 wherein the channel elementand the sleeve have coacting stop means preventing any appreciablelongitudinal sliding movement between said sleeve and channel element.

6. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein the slot width inthe channel element is of considerable greater width than the slot widthin sleeve member whereby when the channel, sleeve and panel are inoperative relation with each other, the sleeve and assothe firstmentioned channel element whereby the channel slots face insubstantially opposite direction, the said second slotted channelelement having nestled therein a springy, expansible slotted sleeve, asecond panel held in said last mentioned sleeve in substantial edge toedge position with respect to the first mentioned panel, and wherein thelast mentioned panel presses its associated resilient sleeve intoconcentric and finn relations with respect to the inner surface of saidsecond channel element.

1. Support means providing readily releasable holding means for flatpanels, comprising an elongate member having a slotted channel element,the inner surface of the channel being generally cylindrical in shape,but terminating short of a complete cylinder in cross section due tosaid slot, a slotted springy resilient and expansible sleeve adapted tonestle in saId channel element, the diameter of such sleeve in thedirection of the slot being slightly greater than the diameter at rightangles thereto when the sleeve is in its unexpanded condition, the lastmentioned diameter being greater than the slot width in said channel,and a flat panel having substantially the same thickness throughout itsmajor portions, the thickness of the panel being greater than the slotwidth in the sleeve in its unexpanded condition, whereby the panel uponforcible insertion into the slotted sleeve expands the latter so thatthe sleeve becomes substantially circular in cross section and causingits outer surface to tightly engage the inner surface of said channelthereby forming a tight frictional fit with said inner surface of saidchannel element and with the panel tightly gripped solely by the edgesof the slotted sleeve while permitting release of the panel uponsufficient force applied thereto.
 2. Support means as defined in claim1, wherein the partial cylindrical channel has a C-shaped cross sectionwhich is only slightly greater than a semi-circle, the width of saidchannel slot being less than the diameter of said inner channel surfaceand wherein the lesser diameter of the unexpanded sleeve is slightlygreater in dimension than the slot width in said channel but slightlyless in dimension than the inside diameter of said channel, permittingthe springy unexpanded sleeve to be inserted into said channel, and tofit loosely for rotation therein, but adapted to be expanded into tightcontact with the channel member upon insertion of the panel in theslotted sleeve.
 3. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein thesaid sleeve is provided with inclined curved lips at the slot entranceto facilitate the insertion of the said panel into the slotted sleeve tothereby expand the said sleeve into firm contact with the channelsurface, the springy sleeve also facilitating easy removal of panel fromthe sleeve, and means for rigidly holding the panel in its associatedsleeve.
 4. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein the panelis provided with V-shaped edges to facilitate by wedging action, theinsertion and removal of said panel into and out of the said slottedsleeve.
 5. Panel support means defined in claim 1 wherein the channelelement and the sleeve have coacting stop means preventing anyappreciable longitudinal sliding movement between said sleeve andchannel element.
 6. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 whereinthe slot width in the channel element is of considerable greater widththan the slot width in sleeve member whereby when the channel, sleeveand panel are in operative relation with each other, the sleeve andassociated panel while firmly and frictionally held in the channelelement, are adapted to be rotated with respect to the channel elementwhen sufficient force to overcome the frictional resistance is appliedto the panel to adjust the latter into the desired angular relationship.7. Panel support means as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a secondslotted channel element substantially a duplicate of the slotted channelelement defined in claim 1, and wherein the said second channel elementis attached to said elongate member and arranged in substantialback-to-back relationship with respect to the first mentioned channelelement whereby the channel slots face in substantially oppositedirection, the said second slotted channel element having nestledtherein a springy, expansible slotted sleeve, a second panel held insaid last mentioned sleeve in substantial edge to edge position withrespect to the first mentioned panel, and wherein the last mentionedpanel presses its associated resilient sleeve into concentric and firmrelations with respect to the inner surface of said second channelelement.